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If you abridge a book or play you make it shorter by making cuts to the original.

An addendum is an additional section added to the end of a book, document, or speech to give more information.

An adjunct is something or someone that is added to or joined to something that is larger or more important.

Something that happens unexpectedly and by chance that is not inherent or natural to a given item or situation is adventitious, such as a root appearing in an unusual place on a plant.

When something is ancillary to something else it means it supports it but is less important than that which it supports.

An appurtenance is a supporting feature, form of equipment, or item associated with a particular activity.

Attrition is the process of gradually decreasing the strength of someone (such as an enemy) by continually attacking it.

To augment something is to increase its value or effectiveness by adding something to it.

A cardinal rule or quality is one that is considered to be the most important or basic in a set of rules.

Something is concomitant when it happens at the same time as something else and is connected with it in some fashion.

The crux of a problem or argument is the most important or difficult part of it which affects everything else.

If you curtail something you reduce or limit it.

A diminution of something is a reduction in the size, number, or importance of it.

To efface something is to erase or remove it completely from recognition or memory.

An entourage is a group of assistants, servants, and other people who tag along with an important person.

When you excise something you remove it by cutting it out.

Paraphernalia is the equipment that one uses to do something, or one’s personal belongings collected over a period of time.

To pare something down is to reduce or lessen it.

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Noun

accoutrement

uh-KOO-truh-muhnt

Context

A soldier’s uniform generally includes several accoutrements or accessories in addition to the clothing itself: belt, weapon, communication device, etc. Originally a military term, the word accoutrement is now used to describe the extra gear of any specific activity or status. The accoutrements of wealth, for example, might include expensive cars or vacation homes; the accoutrements of a professional gymnast might involve a balance beam, the rings, chalk, and uniforms.

Memory Hook

A Scooter Mint Those who ride scooters swallow nasty-tasting bugs. So they need to pack "scooter mints" for every ride.

Examples

Cooking.com This is an e-commerce site first and foremost, so the what-to-do sections go hand-in-hand with the what-to-buy — and the selection of cookware, appliances and other accoutrement can’t be beat.
—TIME

The 2006 budget includes money for everything from new Sukhoi fighter jets to such prestige-enhancing items as lambskin hats for Russia’s generals, an accoutrement abandoned by Boris N. Yeltsin when he was president in leaner times, in 1993.
—The New York Times

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Word Constellation

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Related Words

addendum ·

adjunct ·

adventitious ·

ancillary ·

appurtenance+ ·

augment ·

concomitant ·

entourage ·

paraphernalia+ ·

abridge ·

attrition ·

cardinal ·

crux ·

curtail ·

diminution ·

efface ·

excise ·

pare ·

Similar sense

Opposite sense

Word Variants

accouterment
n

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spelling variant of "accoutrement"

The section lists important variants and alternate definitions of the headword. Knowing variants will often help you both remember and understand the word. Not all variants are listed - only the ones we think that are important for you to know.